As my eyes turn inward,
There exists a great divide.
I can grasp the greatest of truths,
but in my heart there is a divide.
Christ in you,
the hope of glory.
Christ in me,
transformation of my person.
As my eyes turn inward,
I have yet to yield.
I can grasp the greatest of ideas,
but aspects of my humanity remain unchanged.
Christ in you,
the hope of glory.
But what about:
Church on Sunday,
Bible study Monday,
Small group on Thursday,
A prayer before lunch,
and a tithe to my church.
Another mark on my checklist,
an allotment on my things to do.
Where is the glory?
Busy on Wednesday,
Reeling on Saturday,
and exhausted come Sunday.
But Christ in you,
The hope of glory!
When will I yield?
When will I allow,
transformation from the inside out?
Christ in me,
Shekinah glory on the inside.
You came to offer life,
and I form rituals.
You came to offer the revelation of God to my mind,
and I speed through opportunity to commune with you.
You came to be in relationship,
and I cannot find,
the time
to
slow
down
and just be,
who you
created me to
be.
You are with me in the yard,
I lie down in the grass.
You speak as I gaze into the skies,
Your voice comforts,
The wind wraps around my toes,
my soul is at ease.
Christ in me,
Christ in you.
No agenda.
Nothing to earn.
All that I am,
All that I do,
In all things I can enjoy You.
Playing with children,
enjoying this precious time.
Conversing with a loved one,
appreciating their personality.
Doing the laundry,
or getting groceries,
thankful.
Going deeper,
below the surface.
Life to the full.
Christ in you,
The hope of glory,
crossing the great divide.
Showing posts with label Born Again. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Born Again. Show all posts
Monday, April 27, 2009
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Being a Christian
You are a Christian every day of the week, Not just Sunday.
It isn't about just being saved, like you just jump thru a hoop and you are done.
Being a Christian is a walk, not a destination.
Being a Christian doesn't mean you are perfect, but it does mean that you are dissatisfied with sin in your life and are committed to fight against it.
Being a Christian is not very popular and it seems most of television, movies, and music are dead set against it. It seems our society doesn't know what to think of a person with morality, a hope for purity, and loyalty to a cause. Why does someone with a foul mouth find it so easy to speak crudely as if no one else in the world might have decency about them? And yet as a Christian we can find it so hard to speak truth?
Being a Christian the world may find it difficult to make money off of us. Maybe that is why it doesn't like us. We know money can not buy peace and true joy. We know that true love is not selfish and we will fight against the selling of sex. We know that God is all powerful and we are mere men who depend on him for our next breath. We don't need all the status symbols and signs of success the world chases after. Our value comes from the one God placed on us when He created us and planned a life for us. God cares not for how much money we have, or how beautiful we are or what status symbols we have acquired.
Being a Christian is caring about what God cares about. Real life. Real love. Real relationships. True life. Life in the full. Not the empty pursuits up for sale.
In a culture of whatever feels good do it and in a culture of selfish pursuits of pleasure, I find being a Christian quite a satisfying alternative to the lies being sold in the marketplace. How long should it take our society to realize the damage that occurs to the family by divorce and selfish pursuits of pleasure? How many broken families do we have to see and how much pain for young kids before it wakes up?
Being a Christian, sometimes I can't bare to watch people heading for disaster and they seem obliviious to their situation. Being a Christian sometimes I just want to yell. I want to scream at the world and say Hey, Don't believe all that junk your music is telling you. Don't believe that a man gets his man badge by his sexual escapades. Don't believe dealing drugs is cool or women should be exploited. Don't believe money will make you happy. I want to say look at what it means to be dedicated and loyal and have a healthy trusting relationship. Look at what happens if both people are dedicated to following Christ and leave behind all the trappings the world sells you. We can have family life restored. It can happen.
Being a Christian is pursuing holiness before you are married so that when you are married you won't be tempted to cheat or to pervert your sexuality that makes it hard to have a healthy relationship with your wife.
Being a Chrisitan is being committed. Committed to God and to following God's ways. Following because His ways are better than what we can come up with and better because He is real.
Too many people out there are wearing the label Christian but they aren't being Christian. Too many people are giving others the wrong idea of what being Christian is. That makes me want to yell as well. Church is not something we just do on Sunday and leave there not to look at it or think about it during the week. God is always there. Every day. Every moment. He is there. You can't leave Him anywhere and you can't go anywhere He is not present. Instead of going thru some motions to fake or meet some part of your conscience you feel you need to suffice, take the first step of being a Christian and stop lying to yourself and come clean. You don't know Him. If you knew Him, you would love Him. When you love someone you are with them most of your time. You would talk to them, spend time with them, seek them, talk to others about them, sing about them, dedicate your life to them.......
These are some thoughts I had on being a Chrisitan. I am curious. What does being a Christian look like to you?
It isn't about just being saved, like you just jump thru a hoop and you are done.
Being a Christian is a walk, not a destination.
Being a Christian doesn't mean you are perfect, but it does mean that you are dissatisfied with sin in your life and are committed to fight against it.
Being a Christian is not very popular and it seems most of television, movies, and music are dead set against it. It seems our society doesn't know what to think of a person with morality, a hope for purity, and loyalty to a cause. Why does someone with a foul mouth find it so easy to speak crudely as if no one else in the world might have decency about them? And yet as a Christian we can find it so hard to speak truth?
Being a Christian the world may find it difficult to make money off of us. Maybe that is why it doesn't like us. We know money can not buy peace and true joy. We know that true love is not selfish and we will fight against the selling of sex. We know that God is all powerful and we are mere men who depend on him for our next breath. We don't need all the status symbols and signs of success the world chases after. Our value comes from the one God placed on us when He created us and planned a life for us. God cares not for how much money we have, or how beautiful we are or what status symbols we have acquired.
Being a Christian is caring about what God cares about. Real life. Real love. Real relationships. True life. Life in the full. Not the empty pursuits up for sale.
In a culture of whatever feels good do it and in a culture of selfish pursuits of pleasure, I find being a Christian quite a satisfying alternative to the lies being sold in the marketplace. How long should it take our society to realize the damage that occurs to the family by divorce and selfish pursuits of pleasure? How many broken families do we have to see and how much pain for young kids before it wakes up?
Being a Christian, sometimes I can't bare to watch people heading for disaster and they seem obliviious to their situation. Being a Christian sometimes I just want to yell. I want to scream at the world and say Hey, Don't believe all that junk your music is telling you. Don't believe that a man gets his man badge by his sexual escapades. Don't believe dealing drugs is cool or women should be exploited. Don't believe money will make you happy. I want to say look at what it means to be dedicated and loyal and have a healthy trusting relationship. Look at what happens if both people are dedicated to following Christ and leave behind all the trappings the world sells you. We can have family life restored. It can happen.
Being a Christian is pursuing holiness before you are married so that when you are married you won't be tempted to cheat or to pervert your sexuality that makes it hard to have a healthy relationship with your wife.
Being a Chrisitan is being committed. Committed to God and to following God's ways. Following because His ways are better than what we can come up with and better because He is real.
Too many people out there are wearing the label Christian but they aren't being Christian. Too many people are giving others the wrong idea of what being Christian is. That makes me want to yell as well. Church is not something we just do on Sunday and leave there not to look at it or think about it during the week. God is always there. Every day. Every moment. He is there. You can't leave Him anywhere and you can't go anywhere He is not present. Instead of going thru some motions to fake or meet some part of your conscience you feel you need to suffice, take the first step of being a Christian and stop lying to yourself and come clean. You don't know Him. If you knew Him, you would love Him. When you love someone you are with them most of your time. You would talk to them, spend time with them, seek them, talk to others about them, sing about them, dedicate your life to them.......
These are some thoughts I had on being a Chrisitan. I am curious. What does being a Christian look like to you?
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Reflecting on my first days as a Chrisitian
I was just thinking the other day about when Jesus became real and came to live in this temple of mine. About 3 years ago now, I can remember opening the Bible and reading things that just blew my mind. Many of the Scriptures did not make any sense. But there were those small pieces I came across that just amazed me with the Truth they contained. Things no one had ever explained to me before. Looking back I can not imagine living without the Truths contained in God's Word. It's no wonder I got into so much trouble without the Word of God in my life as a non-Christian.
Anyway, I can remember reading some passages like this one: Whoever finds his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Matthew 10:39
I remember saying this to myself and to God: How can I do that? Is that something I really want to do? Who in their right mind can read that and really just accept that right off the bat? That is just craziness. And I encourage all to take those words in as a True statement by Jesus. That really is what He meant, and we really have to digest those words and understand the reality of what following Jesus is. It is a new life. It is a new way of living. It is a great adventure. It is living to care, living to risk in ways we never would have before. It is rearranging what you consider important in your life. It is putting something other than yourself first in all you do. It is a life that seeks God first and puts Him as the most important part of every day of life.
I highly recommend honesty with God. If you read something that catches your attention, something that bothers you, or intrigues you....talk to God about it. Tell Him how you feel. He will lead you in, if you are willing to lose all for the truth.
At some point we have to make that decision. We have before us total commitment no matter the cost with God, OR we walk away alone and seek only what our single feeble minds can imagine without the Creator of the universe to guide us. There has to be that trust, that faith, that God will do us right. That He is Good and He is Worthy to follow and whatever we lose by following Him will not compare to what He has instore, because He is so much bigger and better than we are as little humans. Walk in faith...this is where faith comes from. We move on acknowledging, my life is in your hands, do with as you please, I am fine with losing it, BECAUSE I believe you God, I love you.
I hope I did justice exploring the thoughts I was having. God help me to be relevant to help my fellow believers.
Other than that, I highly recommend making such a commitment to follow God no matter the cost. I can speak from 3 years of experience now, you will not regret making that decision. God has blown me away with His love. Anything I have laid down that God showed me I needed to, none of that junk compares to a life lived with God. Thats all I can say about that.
Anyway, I can remember reading some passages like this one: Whoever finds his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Matthew 10:39
I remember saying this to myself and to God: How can I do that? Is that something I really want to do? Who in their right mind can read that and really just accept that right off the bat? That is just craziness. And I encourage all to take those words in as a True statement by Jesus. That really is what He meant, and we really have to digest those words and understand the reality of what following Jesus is. It is a new life. It is a new way of living. It is a great adventure. It is living to care, living to risk in ways we never would have before. It is rearranging what you consider important in your life. It is putting something other than yourself first in all you do. It is a life that seeks God first and puts Him as the most important part of every day of life.
I highly recommend honesty with God. If you read something that catches your attention, something that bothers you, or intrigues you....talk to God about it. Tell Him how you feel. He will lead you in, if you are willing to lose all for the truth.
At some point we have to make that decision. We have before us total commitment no matter the cost with God, OR we walk away alone and seek only what our single feeble minds can imagine without the Creator of the universe to guide us. There has to be that trust, that faith, that God will do us right. That He is Good and He is Worthy to follow and whatever we lose by following Him will not compare to what He has instore, because He is so much bigger and better than we are as little humans. Walk in faith...this is where faith comes from. We move on acknowledging, my life is in your hands, do with as you please, I am fine with losing it, BECAUSE I believe you God, I love you.
I hope I did justice exploring the thoughts I was having. God help me to be relevant to help my fellow believers.
Other than that, I highly recommend making such a commitment to follow God no matter the cost. I can speak from 3 years of experience now, you will not regret making that decision. God has blown me away with His love. Anything I have laid down that God showed me I needed to, none of that junk compares to a life lived with God. Thats all I can say about that.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Joy Unspeakable
Lord I come unworthy of you and what you have done. I come to you lacking and lazy with my plans. Yet you come, you come and you fill this place. You overwhelm me with hope and light when it seems hope was gone. You lay hold from heaven and perform a miracle in another's life. Thank you Lord, thank you.
I can't imagine the joy in heaven. The joy when one person makes one decision to sanctify their life....to turn away from the fruit Satan offers. Thank you Lord for allowing me to be so close to be able to witness your saving power to change and give new life. Lord I remember what you did for me. I remember you bringing me out of the dark and into your marvelous light. You gave me new life. A new life of truth, purity, light, love, peace, and joy. My life is now on a firm foundation, I no longer question. A life that delights in pleasing you and pursuing what is good and true rather than hiding and playing in the dark. Oh that others may see you...that they may lay hold of your face, to see your truth; that they may find peace in their soul and love for their brother.
Words can do me no justice to share what my heart cries out! My soul sings to heaven to see your saving grace! I love to see you work. I love the mysterious plans you orchestrate to bring strangers into friendship. Lord what you do I could never plan or imagine. I commit my life to following your lead. Take me Lord, where you will. Take me Lord, I want to see your glory.
I can't imagine the joy in heaven. The joy when one person makes one decision to sanctify their life....to turn away from the fruit Satan offers. Thank you Lord for allowing me to be so close to be able to witness your saving power to change and give new life. Lord I remember what you did for me. I remember you bringing me out of the dark and into your marvelous light. You gave me new life. A new life of truth, purity, light, love, peace, and joy. My life is now on a firm foundation, I no longer question. A life that delights in pleasing you and pursuing what is good and true rather than hiding and playing in the dark. Oh that others may see you...that they may lay hold of your face, to see your truth; that they may find peace in their soul and love for their brother.
Words can do me no justice to share what my heart cries out! My soul sings to heaven to see your saving grace! I love to see you work. I love the mysterious plans you orchestrate to bring strangers into friendship. Lord what you do I could never plan or imagine. I commit my life to following your lead. Take me Lord, where you will. Take me Lord, I want to see your glory.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Death to Life
This song has meant a lot to me, thought I would share. Check it out: http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/visit.php?lid=9195
You can left click to listen or you can right click to save target as to put in your music library.
Enjoy!
Here are the lyrics to go with it...
Death to Life
Baptized in Christ
into His death
that we might walk
in newness of life
set free from sin
now slaves to righteousness
raised from the dead
by the glory of the Lord
You are the resurrection
And the Life
He who believes in You
Will never die
You are the resurrection
And the life
He who believes in you
Has passed from death to life
Body of sin
Buried with Him
He who dies
is freed from their sin
Sin shall not be
A master over me
I’m under grace
And I have been set free
You are the resurrection
And the Life
He who believes in You
Will never die
You are the resurrection
And the life
He who believes in you
Has passed from death to life
Baptized in Christ
into His death,
that we might walk
in newness of life
Set free from sin,
now slaves to righteousness
Raised from the dead
by the glory of the Lord!
Body of sin,
buried with Him
He who dies
is freed from their sin
Sin shall not be
a master over me.
I’m under grace,
and I have been set free!
You are the resurrection,
And the Life
He who believes in You
Will never die.
You are the resurrection,
And the life
He who believes in you
has passed from death to life!
You can left click to listen or you can right click to save target as to put in your music library.
Enjoy!
Here are the lyrics to go with it...
Death to Life
Baptized in Christ
into His death
that we might walk
in newness of life
set free from sin
now slaves to righteousness
raised from the dead
by the glory of the Lord
You are the resurrection
And the Life
He who believes in You
Will never die
You are the resurrection
And the life
He who believes in you
Has passed from death to life
Body of sin
Buried with Him
He who dies
is freed from their sin
Sin shall not be
A master over me
I’m under grace
And I have been set free
You are the resurrection
And the Life
He who believes in You
Will never die
You are the resurrection
And the life
He who believes in you
Has passed from death to life
Baptized in Christ
into His death,
that we might walk
in newness of life
Set free from sin,
now slaves to righteousness
Raised from the dead
by the glory of the Lord!
Body of sin,
buried with Him
He who dies
is freed from their sin
Sin shall not be
a master over me.
I’m under grace,
and I have been set free!
You are the resurrection,
And the Life
He who believes in You
Will never die.
You are the resurrection,
And the life
He who believes in you
has passed from death to life!
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